SO FAR SO GOOD: The smiles were wide during the march, but after 25 km the feet got sore.

Mitrovice/Mitrovica, MNB North - The DANCON march is a well-known tradition among the Danish units that are serving outside the borders of Denmark. It follows a 25 km route, usually laid out in the terrain close to the Danish camps, as the march also serves as a sign of mutual trust between the local residents and the Danish Contingent.

However, the main purpose of the march, besides the physical aspect, is for the soldiers to meet their fellow KFOR comrades, have a few laughs, and break the daily routines of work in an atmosphere of camaraderie and respect. Almost 1,100 people from more than 15 countries came to "Camp Olaf Rye" for the DANCON march.
As the Danish Battalion is located in MNB North in the Mitrovica area, the march took place in the hilly and mountainous terrain surrounding the city.
The march started precisely at eight in the morning from the Danish main camp, "Camp Olaf Rye", and as tension and excitement had been building up among people just before start, due to various rumours of the rough terrain and hot weather ahead, everybody was quite content to finally get going.
The weather was perfect with clear blue skies and in the morning the temperature was still quite low. But already at 10 a.m. the temperature had risen to above 20 degrees Celsius, and two hours later the temperature climbed at above 25. The intense heat could have become a serious problem, but due to the well-organized march, the heat only became a worthy challenge, as there were checkpoints with water and fruit every five km.

The fastest soldier completed the 25 km in the impressing time of 2 hours and 35 min., but for many it was not the aim to be first and fastest, but just to complete the march with honours, and thereby earning the right and privilege to wear the DANCON-march-medal. Unfortunately 20 people did not complete the march within the time limit of 8 hours mainly due to light heatstroke, exhaustion or dehydration.
The march ended where it started in "Camp Olaf Rye", and here the Danes had prepared a little surprise for the soldiers coming in. At the finish line, the Danes had set up two hotdog-stands from where all 1,100 participants of the march were served with hotdogs and soda.

During the march the runners ate more than 1,300 kg of fruit and drank almost 15,000 bottles of water. Furthermore, at the finish line more than 3,000 hotdogs and 1,400 cans of soda were consumed.